Floods: Repairs and Maintenance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider assigning the proceeds of the fine imposed on Severn Trent plc to improvement of the sewage and drainage systems in areas affected by last year's flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Ofwat is required by law to pay the fines it collects from water companies into the consolidated.